It may seem like an innocent action, but filming or taking photos of cars can completely ruin your phone’s camera.
The topic came to light after a Reddit user posted a video showing the LiDAR sensor of a Volvo EX90 practically “frying” the phone camera that was filming the car.
The clip showed exactly the moment when light spots started appearing on the screen while the person was filming the vehicle. It turns out that simply filming the car caused permanent damage to the camera sensors. But how?
LiDAR sensors, like those in the Volvo car, work by firing a constant stream of infrared lasers, which the computer uses to reconstruct the car’s surroundings in 3D, including any nearby objects.
Although humans cannot see these laser beams with the naked eye, camera sensors are very sensitive to them. If a smartphone camera gets too close to a LiDAR sensor, the lens risks suffering irreversible internal burns.
To avoid this happening to you, simply use a wide-angle lens to film the car. As shown in the viral clip, the damage only occurs when the Reddit user’s phone switches to telephoto lens mode.
Volvo has already warned consumers about the effects of LiDAR systems. “Do not point the camera directly at the LiDAR,” the car manufacturer wrote on a help page on its website.
“LiDAR, being a laser-based system, uses infrared light waves that can cause damage to certain camera-equipped devices. This can include smartphones or mobile phones with cameras.”
Never film a Volvo EX90 because the LiDAR laser can burn your phone’s camera.
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Photo and video: Volvo / Reddit. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
